Photo of The Expo Axis and China Pavilion
World Fairs have proven to be important epicenters for cultural and architectural development throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Past exhibits such as the 1925 Decorative Arts Exhibit in Paris or the 1893 Columbia Exposition in Chicago are just two examples. Both events propelled artists/architects into the limelight and created an environment for social change. For example, Burnham’s ideas for city planning came out of his city beautiful campaign designed for the 1893 fair.
Sadly the 2010 World Fair seems to be more of a commentary on cliche and glitz rather then serving as a guidepost to any new social trends or architectural style. The pavilions representing the big industrialized countries make glib attempts of representing elements of their respective cultures, yet for me none of the pavilions was particularly revolutionary. Looking at the photos below, you will see lots of dazzle and glitz (which draws in the crowds) but the architecture is all in the style of Gehry or the other starchitects of the moment. If I had to single out a pavilion for praise or noteworthiness, I would give that honor to the Dutch pavilion for its interesting take on high density development. But this is nothing new for the Dutch who have been living in tight living conditions for centuries. Below are photos from the different pavilions taken courtesy of Architectural Record Magazine.
The UK Pavilion
The Spanish Pavilion
The Republic of Korea Pavilion
The Finland Pavilion
The Danish Pavilion
The Shanghai Corporate Pavilion
Filed under: Photo Galleries
This week’s gallery features houses/architecture featured in movies.
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- House from Beetlejuice (facade not a real house)
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- House from Beeetlejuice
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- Deaton’s Sculptured House from Sleeper
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- Elrod House from Diamonds are Forever
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- Elrod House from Diamonds are Forever
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- Marble House from The Great Gatsby
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- Camron Frye’s House from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
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- Dyrham Park from Remains of the Day
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- Dining Room from Remains of the Day
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- The Forbidden City from The Last Emperor
Filed under: Photo Galleries
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- Art Nouveau Door
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- The Golden Door to the Boston Hatchshell
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- Carriage House Doors
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- Doors as windows
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- Gothic Doors
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- Doors with Pattern
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- Grand Entrances
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- Side Entrances with Style
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- The Ultimate Front Door
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- Leather Clad Door
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- Door as a portal
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- Gate by H.H. Richardson
Filed under: Photo Galleries
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- Art Nouveau Window
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- A Variety of Window Styles
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- Lots of Windows
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- projecting windows
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- repeated window
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- Round window
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- French Chateau
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- Window within a pediment
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- Dormer windows
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- Diamond Pattern Window
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- Shapes and Patterns
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- Recessed windows
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- Projecting window
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- Stained glass window
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- Spaceship Inspired window
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- Decorated Window
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- Hungarian windows
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- Curtain Wall Windows
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- Eliptical Windows
If you have photos of cool windows send them along and I will add them to the gallery.
Filed under: Commentary/Reviews, Commercial Work, Photo Galleries
Winthrop Square Parking Garage, Boston, MA
Hello readers,
It is a new year and for the first post of 2012 I thought I would devote it to a building type that rarely gets any attention, the parking garage. Normally these are structures that are made as nondescript and forgettable as possible; their sole purpose being a place to park vehicles. However when an architect pours his energies into creating something beautiful as well as functional, the results are often exemplary. Below are a few of the more noteworthy parking structures that I have seen.
Of all the places that I have visited, I would have to say that Melbourne, Australia is the city that really knows how to do car parks the best. There are more underground parking facilities in Melbourne than any other city I can think of. The best being the one right on the Uni Melbourne campus. You would never know that there was a garage right below the quad.
Melbourne Uni Quad, Carlton, Victoria, AU (garage underneath)